Local Woman Gets State Time For Drug Charges

By Chanin Rotz-Mountz

STAFF WRITER

A McConnellsburg woman was led away by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department Tuesday to begin what will be a multi-year prison sentence on drug-related charges.

Fifty-seven-year-old Jamie Elizabeth Lowery appeared before Fulton County Court of Common Pleas Judge Shawn Meyers for sentencing Tuesday morning on one count each of delivery and possession of a controlled substance.

The charges date back to the sale of Percocet and Vicodin tablets to a Pennsylvania State Police confidential informant between March and June 2011. The deliveries occurred at a pull-off along East Market Street in McConnellsburg Borough.

Given the death of Lowery’s grandson’s father, defense attorney Philip Harper asked Judge Meyers if he would be willing to delay the sentencing proceeding in order for his client to attend the noontime funeral service.

Meanwhile, Fulton County District Attorney Travis Kendall informed the court he did not believe the relationship between Lowery and the deceased to be a close one. In addition, due to this incident being the fifth time Lowery has been arrested on drug charges, he noted there would be instances where she would miss out on family functions in the near future.

As a result, the court agreed to the district attorney’s request that sentencing only be delayed until immediately after the funeral service. Accompanied to the afternoon court proceedings by 16 loved ones and friends, Lowery, of 102 Lincoln Way West, Apt. D, stood before Judge Meyers to receive a total sentence of 35 months in the Recidivism Risk Reduction Incentive (RRRI) Program through a state correctional institution. RRRI is geared toward nonviolent offenders as an incentive to get out of jail early if they are able to comply with a variety of requirements. Individuals having a prior history or open cases involving violent crimes or any Megan’s Law offenses are ineligible to participate in RRRI.

Having asked the judge for both “lenience and understanding in the matter,” Harper did point out that Lowery was not a violent or dangerous person but has been plagued by a drug problem for a very long time. “She’s not public enemy number one in Fulton County or Mc- Connellsburg or even public enemy number 100,” he said.

Meyers also went on to sentence Lowery to a concurrent or simultaneous sentence of 30 months in the RRRI Program for violating probation in a case dating back to 2004.

Lowery will pay restitution totalling $180 to the state police for drug buy money as well as an additional $1,120 in restitution in connection with the probation violation case.